The 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje has sought to allay widespread anxiety among the general public over the year 2012, saying that sincere commitment to compassion and wisdom abates concern for uncertainties.

In a new year’s message, the 26-year old Tibetan spiritual leader noted the “anxiety” expressed by many people over “disasters that might befall the world” in the new year.

“If we are sincerely committed to following a path of compassion and wisdom, this uncertainty about the future need not cause us any concern,” Gyalwang Karmapa said.

“If we harbor this attitude in our hearts, we can make anything that occurs positive for ourselves and for others”.

Looking back at the year 2011, Gyalwang Karmapa offered his “heartfelt prayers” to those who suffered in the turmoil of the “unanticipated challenges” that the world faced including natural disasters and manmade environmental challenges.

Gyalwang Karmapa, who recently presided over a three-day event in New Delhi to commemorate the 900th birth anniversary of the First Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa, wished everyone a “harmonious” journey into the New Year.

“May we live this year with mutual love and respect for one another and for the earth that is our common home,” the 17th Karmapa said.

A US embassy cable from New Delhi leaked earlier this year had nicknamed the 17th Karmapa as ‘Obama Lama’, calling him an “inspiring fresh face on the Tibetan scene” who knows Tibetan, English, and Chinese.

The 17th Gyalwang Karmapa has been living in Dharamshala, northern India since he made a daring escape from Tibet in 2000 after Chinese authorities increasingly restricted his ability to travel and teach his disciples, and to receive transmissions from his lineage teachers.

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